Ankle breakers are small but deep holes drilled into drawbridges, stone bridges, and other defensive fortifications, in order to allow a slow moving party to cross easily, while causing a running person to twist their ankle and fall, which could result in injury. Its purpose was to slow down or harm those attempting to enter the fortress.

In sports In sports, ankle breakers are a combination of legal moves within the confines of a sport's rules that send a player on the ground, hence the name 'ankle breaker'. The ankle breaker occurs most notably in football or basketball, with a crossover or other ball handling move, or in hockey.

In games In games, ankle breakers are when someone tricks something, usually another player into moving the wrong way to win or to help something or someone.

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